Opinion: Glorifying breeds as ridiculous as vilifying SPCA

Sophie Delorme is a certified translator who works in film dubbing. A resident of Notre Dame de Grâce, she is also a dog-sitter.

Joan Coull (“No SPCA dogs for me,” Opinion, Nov. 23) is naive and uninformed, akin to the Victorian English dog-fanciers who felt the need to enliven their existence with the creation of kennel clubs, and the setting of breed standards based on arbitrary esthetic preferences.

In order to earn their “reputable” title, breeders must be registered with a kennel club. It is now acknowledged that these clubs are having a negative impact on the canine species.

The Crufts dog show, the British equivalent of the Westminster show in North America, has had to modify the selection process of its champions to make sure that their “Best in Breed/Show” are healthy dogs — and not just the best representative of the breed’s esthetic standards.

Many breeds have become genetic disasters:

The English bulldog is unable to give birth naturally and suffers from breathing problems, often requiring surgery;

A champion German shepherd is now barely able to walk without dragging the rear-end;

The Shar-Pei is … well, where to begin!

The Dachshund’s spine … ditto!

And I could go on.

These health issues are the direct result of the actions of amateur geneticists going by the oxymoronic appellation of “reputable breeders.”

Glorifying breeds is as ridiculous as vilifying the SPCA, or mutts, or the dogs that Ms. Coull seems to be fond of making fun of.

Ms. Coull seems to want to be able to choose a dog the way she picks out a new fridge: size, colour, performance and a 12-year guarantee.

Dogs are living, thinking, feeling creatures, and as with any other earthly creatures, there are no guarantees!

As a professional dog-sitter, I feel particularly well-placed to comment on Ms. Coull’s article. My 12 year-old Labrador-retriever Moby (my second SPCA dog, and fourth rescue) and I have dog-sat more than 40 different canine-friends over the last 11 years — from expensive pure-breeds to a mutt rescued from the streets of Taiwan. I am therefore able to say with certainty that there are no magic recipes when it comes to dogs. Over the years, Moby and I have cared for neurotic, expensive purebred dogs and neurotic rescues, as well as wonderful purebred dogs and equally wonderful rescues.

In spite of being an SPCA rescue, Moby is of exceptional health, temperament and sociability. And he came to me that way, straight out of SPCA Montérégie. My first SPCA rescue, Greta, was also a wonderful, socially excellent dog from SPCA Montreal. And my other two foundlings were also wonderful dogs who lived long, healthy lives and exhibited no behavioural issues.

That said, I am now having a thought that the publication of Ms. Coull’s article is actually a plot to raise funds for the SPCA. I feel the urge to send them money.

Sophie Delorme

is a certified translator who works in film dubbing. A resident of Notre Dame de Grâce, she is also a dog-sitter.

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